Militia Tips and Tricksto help keep
you alive and functioning in the field

These are tricks I've learned from experience and collected
from different sources.Use what works for you.If you have
some ideas of value please drop me a line.

Use sterno to cook with instead of an open fire.If you need to cook at all. The aroma from cooked food (and fire) travels incredibly far compared with cold food.When people are hungry their sense of smell increases too.

If you are using MREs,eliminate the extra crap. All the cardboard,extra wrappers,spoons (you only need one) heaters (your not at the Ritz) and stuff. That will cut a lot of bulk and extra pounds.

Replace you 2 one quart canteens on your LBV with 1 two
quart canteen.Lighter (10 ounces I think) and when the air
is crushed out it is 1000% quieter.If you feel you need a
canteen cup throw it in your pack.If you don't have your
pack you probably won't be cooking either.Trust me.Your not
gonna dig a fighting position in hard soil with a canteen
cup.

Drink the water from on your pack first.That way if you
have to ditch your pack you still have water with you.It
also lightens the load on your back.

Wear loose fitting clothes.Tight fitting clothes tear
more easily.

Tape the muzzle of your rifle to keep crud and water
out.Or use condoms or colored (tactical) water
balloons.

Last three rounds in your magazine should be tracers to
alert you to a mag change.

Replace the cartridge in your the chamber of your weapon
each morning "quietly".Codensation may casue a
malfunction.

Oil the selector switch on your weapon daily and work the
switch back and forth.This will prevent a stuck switch.

Always carry a small vial/tube of oil for your weapon

Always carry your weapon on "safe".

Conduct a jump test before moving out.Jump in the air
with your full combat load and tape (carry black electrical
tape in your buttpack) what rattles or clangs.There is
nothing metal in the woods!

Never assume your weapon is clean enough.Clean your
weapon daily!Never have more then two weapons broken down
at a time.Less if you number less then 10 people.

Place magazines upside down to keep out water and crud
with bullets pointing OUT to prevent a "lucky" shot from
discharging your rounds.

Be sure all snaps and buckles are taped

Tie a string or a laynard to everthing you don't want to
loose or if taken under fire while using.ie
compass,flashlight.

Place you battle dressing carrier upside down on your
shoulder straps so you don't smack yourself in the face
opening it.

When treating someone else use THEIR first aid equipment
and not yours first.If they are evacuated off the field they
are taking their bandages too.If you use yours and then
your hit...

Always carry a knife of some sort (other then a "Rambo"
knife).

Always carry a survival kit on YOU.Not in your pack or
gear.I use my right BDU pocket and carry an M258A-1 decon
container for crushproofness.Outside it is a "space
blanket" secured with a length of 550 cord.

Carry smoke grenades (if at all) on your pack and not your web
gear.You don't fight with smoke grenades and 99 out of a
100 times if you need one you'll have your pack too.

Camoflage your rifle and gear.Your enemy is smart enough
to know that black M-16 isn't walking through the woods
alone.

Use natural foilage to break up your outline.Do not take
from your ambush sight but use the same foilage found in
your ambush sight.Replace as it dies.

Use a poncho liner (or two) for sleepong instead of a
heavy bulky sleeping bag.